Gate-latch.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. J. W. JOHNSTON.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1905.

a w 2 s MM 1W f .a j z. 572, F a I W H w) Z n J w JAMES 117. JOHNSTON, OF EVANSTON, WVYOMING.

-GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed November 6, 1905. Serial No. 286,112.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES W. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Uinta and State of yoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and I do declare the following to be full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in latches for gates and the like; and it consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive gate-latch which will effectively hold the gate in its closed position when swung thereto from either side of the fence or wall in which it is mounted.

The above and other objects, which will appear as the nature of invention is better understood, are accomplished by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fence-gate with my improved latch applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by'the line 2 2 in Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latch proper which is mounted upon the gate. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the latchkeeper which is. mounted upon the gate-post, and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the latchkeeper.

Referring to the drawings numeral, 1.

and 2 denote the fence-posts, upon one of which is hingedly mounted, as shown at 3, a gate 4 of any suitable form and construction, which may be swung open in either direction.

My improved latch device 5, which is adapted to secure the gate 4 to the post 1, consists of a latch proper, 6, and a latchkeeper? The latch proper, 6, is secured upon the outer end of the gate and is in the form of a metal plate, from which a projecting tongue 8 is cut and bent upwardly, as shown.

The latch-keeper 7 is also preferably formed' from a sheet or plate of metal by cutting and bending the same, as shown. This keeper comprises a bodyportion 9, having projecting from its center at opposite points offset attaching-feet 10, which are apertured to receive fastening screws, bolts, or the like, which secure the keeper to the gate-post 1. The main portion 9 of the keeper, which extends horizontally across the inner face of the post 1, is in the form of an elongated loop, which is formed by bending the projecting portions of the base-plate 9 upon each other, as shown at 11, so that their ends 12 meet at the center of the keeper, as clearly shown in the drawings. In the space formed by this loop or frame of the keeper are loosely mounted detent-rings 13, which serve to retain the projection S of the latch between them, and thus hold the gate in its closed position. These detent-rings 13 are disposed in the opposing ends of the loop or frame of the keeper and are retained therein by rivets or the like 14, which are passed through them and alining openings in said loop or frame. These detentrings are so mounted that they hang below the bottom of said latch or frame and may swing upwardly into the same to permit the under them when the gate is swung to its closed position, but will prevent the opening of the gate because of their engagement with the ends 10 of the loops or frame.

The construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be seen that when the gate is in its closed position the projection 8 of the latch will be disposed between the two detentrings and cannot swing outwardly in either direction until they are swung upwardly into the loop or frame of the keeper and that when said gate swings to its closed position the projection S of the latch will engage the under side of one of the detent-rings, elevate it, and pass under between the two rings. As soon as the projection passes the ring, which it elevates, the latter drops, so that the projection will be retained between the two rings, and the gate will be held in its closed position;

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a latch device for gates, or the like, a latch-keeper comprising a plate having inprojcction 8 of the latch to passtegral attaching-feet and an elongated loos I my hand in presence of two subscribing Witor frame formed by bending portions of sai t nesses.

plate upon themselves, orosspins in said loop, and detent-rings supported upon said JAMES JOHNSTON 5 cross-pins, substantially as describe and for l Witnesses:

' the purpose set forth.

JEssE S. Klemens, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ARTHUR E. PRATT. 

